Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator

ABSTRACT

A wallet consolidator to process a transaction and related methods, are provided. The wallet consolidator can include a controller to control operation of the wallet consolidator, an input device to receive a copy of information provided to the wallet consolidator, a memory device for storing information, and an output device positioned to communicate at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a computer device, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database, located at a point-of-sale, to process a transaction. The wallet consolidator can also include program product stored in readable memory of the wallet consolidator and operating to receive information stored on at least one of a plurality of cards, to store the received information in the memory device, and to effectuate communication of at least a portion of the stored information to the point-of-sale terminal.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/923,617, filed Aug. 6,2001, titled “Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing aTransaction Using a Wallet Consolidator,” which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/618,407, filed Jul. 18, 2000, titled“Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,462, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/087,193, filed May29, 1998, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,811,each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of The Invention

The present invention pertains in general to the use of electronic smartcards for the storage of information pertaining to electronic commerceand consumer identification, and in particular, but not by way oflimitation, to a method and apparatus for the warehousing and retrievalof information pertaining to credit cards, debit cards, identificationcards and other selected data.

2. Description of Related Art

In today's electronic commerce there has been a proliferation in the useof various types of credit, debit, identification and other types ofauthorization cards. For example, an average individual is likely tocarry a driver's license, several credit and/or debit cards, anidentification card for access to a health club, an identification cardto gain access to a place of employment and an access card to gain entryinto a parking garage, among others. Furthermore, with advances inelectronic commerce, smart cards are likely to replace paper and coinmoney resulting in an additional card for consumers to carry. Each ofthese cards typically incorporates a magnetic stripe or bar code tofacilitate easy recognition of the card and to store various types ofdata. Although the use of these cards allow for easy and efficientelectronic commerce, the number of such cards quickly becomes cumbersomeand many individuals find carrying the large number of cardsinconvenient.

Attempts have been made to use a single smart card to hold the variousinformation contained on several cards. These attempts, however, involvethe downloading of information from the smart card provider and do notallow a smart card user to control the contents of the device by addingadditional information from newly issued cards or removing informationfrom discontinued cards.

It would be advantageous, therefore, to devise a method and apparatusfor consolidating the various cards, and other types of information,which individuals typically carry in a wallet or purse. It would furtherbe advantageous if such a method and apparatus stored the information ina central location and facilitated the use of a single multi-purposecard. It would still further be advantageous if such a method andapparatus allowed the user of the method and apparatus the ability tocontrol the stored information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide a wireless device or apparatus, also known as awallet consolidator, capable of warehousing digitized information storedon the cards including identification information, some or all of whichto be delivered to a computer device and possibly a portion to thedevice operator located with the computer device. According to anembodiment of the present invention, a wallet consolidator can include,for example, a controller to control operation of the walletconsolidator, at least one input device connected to the controller ofthe wallet consolidator to receive a copy of identification informationstored on at least one card, memory connected to the controller to storethe information received by the input device, and an output deviceconnected to the controller and positioned to transmit at least aportion of the information stored in the memory device to computerdevice, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database,located at a point-of-sale, which is positioned to process apoint-of-sale transaction effectuated pursuant to the at least a portionof the information.

According to an embodiment of the wallet consolidator, in its mostgeneralized configuration, the input device can include, but is notlimited to, one or more of the following: a magnetic stripe card reader,a bar code reader, a keypad, a touch screen, a smart card reader, akiosk, a memory card, a telephony interface, a wireless interface, awireline communications interface, a wireless communications interface,an infrared (IR) interface, and a radio frequency (RF) interface. Thememory device can include, but is not limited to, one or more of thefollowing: semiconductor memory, a smart card (contact, contactless, orhybrid), a memory card (portable flash memory), random access memory(RAM), magnetic memory, or a hard disk magnetic tape, an optical memorydevice, and an optical disc. The output device can include, but is notlimited to, one or more of the following: a data interface, a telephonyinterface, a wireless interface, a wireline communications interface, awireless communications interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, aninfrared (IR) interface, and a display configured for displayingscanable bar codes.

To store information in the wallet consolidator, for example, oralternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator,information can be read from magnetic stripes on various types of cardssuch as, but not limited to, credit, debit and identification cards. Abar code scanner allows a bar code to be scanned from a card and storedin memory. Additionally, images of the cards including, but not limitedto, signatures, portraits can be downloaded, and with sufficient memory,stored for future use. A user can retrieve information using the inputdevice for use in an, e.g., point-of-sale transaction. The stored imagescan be retrieved and displayed on a display screen including a bar codewhich can be scanned by a bar code scanner.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include an input device positioned to receiveinformation stored on at least one card, a memory device connected tothe input device to store the information received by the input device,and an output device connected to the memory device and positioned totransmit at least a portion of the information stored in the memorydevice to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale. Thepoint-of-sale terminal can be positioned to process a transactionresponsive to the at least a portion of the information. The informationcan include, for example, account identification information pertainingto at least one of the following: one or more credit cards, one or moredebit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electroniccoupons, or one or more food stamp accounts. Accordingly, the at leastone card can include one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards,one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or oneor more food stamp identification cards. The information can alsoinclude driver's license data taken from, for example, a driver'slicense card. Further, the information can include a digitized image ofthe at least one card, to thereby provide further functionality.Advantageously, the output device can include a wireless output devicesuch as, for example, a wireless interface, a wireless communicationsinterface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface, to thereby enhancepersonal mobility.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a walletconsolidator includes a controller positioned to control operation ofthe wallet consolidator, an input device in communication with thecontroller and positioned to receive a copy of identificationinformation stored on at least one card, a memory device incommunication with the controller and positioned to store theidentification information received by the input device, and an outputdevice in communication with the controller and positioned to transmitat least a portion of the identification information stored in thememory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale.The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to process a point-of-saletransaction responsive to the at least a portion of the identificationinformation. According to an embodiment of the wallet consolidator, theinformation can include personal identification information contained onthe at least one card, and the output device can include a wirelessoutput device such as, for example, a wireless interface, a wirelesscommunications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface, tothereby enhance personal mobility.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include an input device positioned to receiveinformation stored on at least one card, a memory device connected tothe input device to store the information received by the input device,and a wireless output device connected to the memory device andpositioned to transmit at least a portion of the information stored inthe memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at apoint-of-sale. The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to process atransaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include an input device positioned to receiveinformation stored on at least one card, a memory device connected tothe input device to store the information received by the input device,and an output device connected to the memory device and positioned toeffectuate communication of at least a portion of the information storedin the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at apoint-of-sale when the point-of-sale terminal is positioned to receivethe at least a portion of the information from the wallet consolidatorfor use in a point-of-sale transaction. The output device can include awireless output device such as, for example, a wireless interface, awireless communications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include a controller position to control operation ofthe wallet consolidator, an input device in communication with thecontroller and positioned to receive information contained on at leastone card, a memory device in communication with the controller andpositioned to store the information received by the input device, and awireless output device in communication with the controller andpositioned to interface with a point-of-sale terminal located at apoint-of-sale to provide at least a portion of the information stored inthe memory device to the point-of-sale terminal. The point-of-saleterminal can be positioned to enable a transaction responsive toreceiving the at least a portion of the information.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include a controller positioned to control operation ofthe wallet consolidator, an input device in communication with thecontroller and positioned to receive information contained on at leastone card, a memory device in communication with the controller andpositioned to store the information received by the input device, and awireless output device in communication with the controller. Thewireless output device is adapted to be positioned to interface or toeffectuate communication with a point-of-sale terminal located at apoint-of-sale to provide at least a portion of the information stored inthe memory device to the point-of-sale terminal when the walletconsolidator is positioned adjacent the point-of-sale terminal tothereby enable a transaction responsive to receiving the at least aportion of the information.

Embodiments of the present invention include program product stored inreadable memory of a wallet consolidator to control the walletconsolidator. According to an embodiment of the present invention, theprogram product operates to perform the steps of receiving informationstored on at least one of a plurality of cards, storing the receivedinformation in a memory device, and effectuating communication of atleast a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminalpositioned at a point-of-sale and positioned to process a point-of-saletransaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information. Thereceived information can include, for example, a digitized image of theat least one of the plurality of cards, and/or information pertaining toat least one of the following: one or more credit cards, one or moredebit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electroniccoupons, or one or more food stamp accounts. The step of receiving canbe performed via an input device in communication with either acontroller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the inputdevice comprising at least one of the following: a touch screen or auser input cluster. The step of effectuating communication of at least aportion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal isperformed via a wireless output device in communication with at leastone of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator,the wireless output device comprising one or more of the following: awireless communications interface or a radio frequency (RF) interface.The program product can further operate to perform the steps ofproviding a user an option to select a card to add or delete, duplicateinformation, transfer data, move cash, or access or amend informationincluding at least one of the following: an electronic coupon,identification information, or a medical record, and providing an actiontree which instructs the user on the use of the wallet consolidatorresponsive to the user selecting the selected option. Still further, theprogram product can operate to perform the steps of receiving a passcodefrom a user prior to allowing the user to gain access to the walletconsolidator, and allowing the user to gain access to functions of thewallet consolidator responsive to the passcode.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the programproduct operates to perform the steps of storing information, identifiedon at least one of a plurality of cards, in a memory device of thewallet consolidator, and effectuating communication of at least aportion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positionedat a point-of-sale for use in a point-of-sale transaction responsive tothe at least a portion of the information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the program productoperates to perform the steps of receiving information stored on atleast one card, storing the received information in a memory device ofthe wallet consolidator, and effectuating communication of at least aportion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positionedat a point-of-sale and positioned in wireless communication with thewallet consolidator, responsive to the at least a portion of theinformation.

Embodiments of the present invention also include a method forprocessing a transaction using a wallet consolidator. For example, sucha method can include the steps of receiving information stored on atleast one of a plurality of cards, storing the received information in amemory device, and transmitting at least a portion of the storedinformation to a point-of-sale terminal positioned at a point-of-saleand positioned to process a respective point-of-sale transactionresponsive to the at least a portion of the information.

According to another embodiment of a method for processing a transactionusing a wallet consolidator, the method can include receivinginformation stored on at least one of a plurality of cards, storing thereceived information in a memory device positioning a walletconsolidator adjacent a point of sale terminal positioned at a point ofsale, and communicating at least a portion of the stored information tothe point-of-sale terminal for use in a point-of-sale transactionresponsive to the at least a portion of the information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of theinvention, as well as others which will become apparent, may beunderstood in more detail, a more particular description of theinvention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to theembodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings,which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however,that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the inventionand are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scopeas it may include other effective embodiments as well.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the wallet consolidator;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a preferred method for consolidating cardinformation using the wallet consolidator described in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wallet consolidator consistent with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout, the prime notation, if used,indicates similar elements in alternative embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a functional block diagramof a wallet consolidator shown generally at 100. The functionalcomponents of the wallet consolidator 100 include a controller 110, amemory 120, a user input cluster 130, a data interface 140, a keypad150, a telephone interface 160, a smart card interface 170, a bar codescanner 180, an infrared (IR) transceiver 190, a display screen 200, aradio frequency (RF) transceiver 210 and a magnetic stripe reader/writer220.

The controller 110, controls the overall operation of the walletconsolidator 100 including the coordination of the various functionalblocks. The magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 is used to read and writeinformation from and to magnetic stripes used on credit cards, debitcards and identification cards among others. Information read from themagnetic stripes by the magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 is stored inthe memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100. In an alternativeembodiment, the information is stored in a memory located within a smartcard which is commonly known in the industry. In situations where theinformation from the magnetic stripe is stored in the memory of thesmart card, the information is written into the memory of the smart cardusing the smart card interface 170. The smart card interface 170effectuates reading and writing from and to the smart card.

A keypad 150 can be used as a user input for inputting information orindicating selections and actions to the wallet consolidator 100. In anembodiment of the present invention, the keypad 150 is a numeric keypad,however; in an alternative embodiment the keypad 150 is an alphanumerickeypad. The user input cluster 130 provides an additional user input forcommunicating selections and actions to the wallet consolidator 100.While it is understood that the user input cluster 130 can have anynumber of input buttons, a preferred configuration includes an up and adown button for moving through options provided to the user on thedisplay screen 200, a delete button for removing items from the displayscreen, and an activate button for making a selection and/or enabling anaction by the wallet consolidator 100.

The bar code scanner 180 allows a user to scan a bar code on the face ofidentification, credit, debit and other types of cards and to store thebar code in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator, or alternatively,in the memory of the smart card. In either event, the user can selectthe bar code for display on the display screen 200 such that the barcode, as displayed on the display screen 200, is readable by a bar codescanner.

In addition to displaying items stored in the memory 120 of the walletconsolidator 100, or alternatively the memory of the smart card, thedisplay screen 200 is used for programming and/or otherwise controllingoperation of the wallet consolidator 100. For example, the displayscreen 200, in conjunction with the keypad 150 and/or the user inputcluster 130, can be used by the user to input a passcode to gain accessto the wallet consolidator 100. In an alternative embodiment, the keypad150 is effectuated using a touch sensitive display screen 200.

After gaining access to the wallet consolidator 100, the controller 110displays a menu of functions on the display screen 200 and the usermakes a selection by either using the user input cluster 130 to scrollthrough and select an option or directly selecting an option using thekeypad 150. The types of options include, but are not limited to,selecting a card to add or delete, duplicating information, transferringdata, moving cash or accessing various types of information such aselectronic coupons, identification information or medical records amongothers. Based on the selected option, the wallet consolidator 100, viathe display screen 200 traverses an action tree which instructs the useron the use of the wallet consolidator 100.

The data interface 140 and telephone interface 160 can effectuatecommunication between the wallet consolidator 100 and various computingdevices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumbterminals and databases. The data interface 140 uses a serial data port,a parallel data port or any other data communication technique. In asimilar fashion, the telephone interface 160 allows communication via awireline or wireless telecommunication network. Furthermore, theinfrared transceiver 190 and the radio frequency transceiver 210 caneffectuate wireless communication between the wallet consolidator 100and various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-saleterminals, dumb terminals and databases, collectively point-of-serviceor point-of-transaction terminals, which are equipped with a similarinfrared transceiver or radio frequency transceiver.

The wallet consolidator 100 allows an individual to swipe their credit,debit, identification or other type cards through the magnet stripereader/writer 220 and store the information contained in the magneticstripe in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, oralternatively in the memory of the smart card. The wallet consolidator100 also allows an individual to scan a bar code on a card using the barcode scanner 180 and store the bar code in the wallet consolidator 100,or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. Furthermore, theindividual can download the image of the cards, or other cards which donot have a magnetic stripe and, with sufficient memory, store adigitized image in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, oralternatively in the memory of the smart card. Additionally, other typesof information can be stored in either the memory 120 of the walletconsolidator 100 or the memory of the smart card. Among other types ofinformation, items such as electronic coupons or food stamp balances canbe stored and then redeemed during a point-of-sale transaction.Communication with various computing devices such as, but not limitedto, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals and databases, can beeffectuated using the telephone interface 160, the radio frequencytransceiver 210, the infrared transceiver 190 or the display screen 200.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a flowdiagram of a preferred method for consolidating card information usingthe wallet consolidator 100 described in FIG. 1. Information stored onmagnetic stripes is entered into the wallet consolidator 100 by swipingthe subject identification, credit, debit or other type of card throughthe magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 to read the information from themagnetic stripe of the subject card (step 300). Alternatively, theinformation can be entered into the wallet consolidator 100 via the datainterface 140, the keypad 150, the telephone interface 160, the infraredtransceiver 190 or the radio frequency transceiver 210. The enteredinformation is stored in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100,or alternatively in the memory of the smart card (step 310).

Similarly, bar codes from the cards are scanned (step 320) and the barcodes are stored in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, oralternatively, in the memory of the smart card (step 330).Alternatively, the information can be entered into the walletconsolidator 100 via the data interface 140, the keypad 150, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

Still farther, other information such as electronic coupons or imagessuch as portraits and signatures, are downloaded into the walletconsolidator 100 (step 332) and stored in the memory 120 of the walletconsolidator 100, or alternatively, in the memory of the smart card(step 334). The information can be downloaded into the walletconsolidator 100 via the data interface 140, the keypad 150, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

To retrieve magnetic stripe information from the wallet consolidator100, the user selects the desired information using either the userinput cluster 130 or the keypad 150 (step 340). Once the information hasbeen selected, the information can be written onto a magnetic strip ofthe smart card or other multi-use card (step 350). Alternatively, theinformation which was selected can be communicated to various computingdevices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumbterminals and databases via the data interface 140, the telephoneinterface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequencytransceiver 210.

Similarly, the user selects a desired bar code using either the userinput cluster 130 or the keypad 150 (step 360) and the selected image isdisplayed on the display screen 200 (step 370). Alternatively, theinformation which was selected can be communicated to various computingdevices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumbterminals, and databases, etc., via the data interface 140, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

Still further, the user can select stored information, includingdownloaded information (step 380), and display the selected information(step 390) or download the selected information (step 400) to variouscomputing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals,dumb terminals and databases via the data interface 140, the telephoneinterface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequencytransceiver 210.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a perspective view of awallet consolidator 100. The wallet consolidator, shown generally at100, includes the controller 110 which is located internally and notshown, the memory 120 also located internally and not shown, the userinput cluster 130, the data interface 140, the keypad 150, the telephoneinterface 160, the smart card interface 170, the bar code scanner 180,the infrared transceiver 190, the display screen 200, the radiofrequency transceiver 210, and the magnetic stripe reader/writer 220.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,filed ______, titled “Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods ofProcessing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator”; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/923,617, filed Aug. 6, 2001, titled “WalletConsolidator and Related Methods of Processing a Transaction Using aWallet Consolidator”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/618,407, filedJul. 18, 2000, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No.6,293,462; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/087,193, filed May29, 1998, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,811,each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typicalpreferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms areemployed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerabledetail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It willbe apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be madewithin the spirit and scope of the invention as described in theforegoing specification and as defined in the appended claims.

1. Program product stored in readable memory of a wallet consolidator tocontrol the wallet consolidator, the program product operating toperform the following steps: receiving information stored on at leastone of a plurality of cards; storing the received information in amemory device; and effectuating communication of at least a portion ofthe stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positioned at apoint-of-sale and positioned to process a point-of-sale transactionresponsive to the at least a portion of the information.
 2. Programproduct as defined in claim 1, wherein the received information includesa digitized image of the at least one of the plurality of cards. 3.Program product as defined in claim 2, wherein the step of effectuatingcommunication of at least a portion of the stored information to apoint-of-sale terminal includes the step of effectuating communicationof the at least a portion of the stored information to a computingdevice selected from the group of: a dumb terminal and a database. 4.Program product as defined in claim 1, wherein the information comprisesinformation pertaining to at least one of the following: one or morecredit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards,one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; andwherein the program product further operates to perform the steps of:providing a user an option to select a card to add or delete, duplicateinformation, transfer data, move cash, or access or amend informationincluding at least one of the following: an electronic coupon,identification information, or a medical record, and providing an actiontree which instructs the user on the use of the wallet consolidatorresponsive to the user selecting the selected option.
 5. Program productas defined in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving is performed via aninput device in communication with at least one of a controller or thereadable memory of the wallet consolidator, the input device comprisingat least one of the following: a touch screen or a user input cluster;wherein the memory device comprises at least one of the following: asmart card, a memory card, a magnetic tape, an optical memory device, oran optical disc; and wherein the program product further operates toperform the step of effectuating writing the at least a portion of theinformation to a transaction card, the information includingidentification information contained on the plurality of cards. 6.Program product as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving isperformed via an input device in communication with at least one of acontroller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the inputdevice comprising at least one of the following: a touch screen, a smartcard reader, a kiosk, a memory card, or a radio frequency (RF)interface; and wherein the memory device comprises at least one of thefollowing: semiconductor memory, random access memory (RAM), magneticmemory, or a hard disk.
 7. Program product as defined in claim 1,wherein the step of effectuating communication is performed via anoutput device in communication with at least one of a controller or thereadable memory of the wallet consolidator, the output device comprisingone or more of the following: a wireless communications interface or aradio frequency (RF) interface; and wherein the at least a portion ofthe information is communicated for the point-of-sale transaction. 8.Program product as defined in claim 1, wherein the information comprisesidentification information pertaining to at least one of the following:one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or moreidentification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or morefood stamp accounts; wherein the step of effectuating communication ofat least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminalincludes the step of effectuating communication of the at least aportion of the stored identification information to a computing deviceselected from the group of: a dumb terminal and a database; wherein thestep of effectuating communication of at least a portion of the storedinformation to a point-of-sale terminal is performed via an outputdevice connected to the controller, the output device comprising atleast one of the following: a wireless interface, a wirelesscommunications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface. whereinthe step of receiving is performed via an input device connected to acontroller of the wallet consolidator, the input device comprising atleast one of the following: a magnetic stripe card reader, a bar codereader, a keypad, a touch screen, a smart card reader, a kiosk, a memorycard, a telephony interface, a wireless interface, a wirelinecommunications interface, a wireless communications interface, aninfrared (IR) interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface; andwherein the step of storing is performed via the memory device, thememory device connected to the controller and comprising at least one ofthe following: a semiconductor memory, a smart card, a memory card,random access memory (RAM), magnetic memory, hard disks, magnetic tapes,an optical memory device, or an optical disc.
 9. Program product asdefined in claim 1, wherein the program product further operates toperform the step of providing an action tree that instructs the user onthe use of the wallet consolidator.
 10. Program product as defined inclaim 1, wherein the program product further operates to perform thesteps of receiving a passcode from a user prior to allowing the user togain access to the wallet consolidator, and allowing the user to gainaccess to functions of the wallet consolidator responsive to thepasscode.
 11. Program product stored in readable memory of a walletconsolidator to control the wallet consolidator, the program productoperating to perform the following steps: storing information identifiedon at least one of a plurality of cards in a memory device of the walletconsolidator; and effectuating communication of at least a portion ofthe stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positioned at apoint-of-sale for use in a point-of-sale transaction responsive to theat least a portion of the information.
 12. Program product as defined inclaim 11, wherein the information comprises information pertaining to atleast one of the following: one or more credit cards, one or more debitcards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons,or one or more food stamp accounts; and wherein the program productfurther operates to perform the step of providing a user an option toselect a card to add or delete, duplicate information, transfer data,move cash, or access or amend information including at least one of thefollowing: an electronic coupon, identification information, or amedical record.
 13. Program product as defined in claim 12, furtheroperating to perform the steps of: receiving via an input device incommunication with at least one of a controller or the readable memoryof the wallet consolidator, information associated with the at least oneof the plurality of cards, the input device comprising at least one ofthe following: a touch screen, a smart card reader, a kiosk, a memorycard, or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and receiving a passcode froma user prior to allowing the user to gain access to the walletconsolidator.
 14. Program product as defined in claim 11, wherein thestep of effectuating communication of the at least a portion of thestored information to a point-of-sale terminal is performed via anoutput device in communication with at least one of a controller or thereadable memory of the wallet consolidator, the output device comprisingat least one of the following: a wireless communications interface or aradio frequency (RF) interface.
 15. Program product as defined in claim11, wherein the program product further operates to perform the step ofeffectuating communication of at least a portion of the storedinformation to a computing device selected from the group of: a dumbterminal and a database; and wherein the received information includes adigitized image.
 16. Program product stored in readable memory of awallet consolidator to control the wallet consolidator, the programproduct operating to perform the following steps: receiving informationstored on at least one card; storing the received information in amemory device of the wallet consolidator; and effectuating communicationof at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-saleterminal positioned at a point-of-sale and in wireless communicationwith the wallet consolidator responsive to the at least a portion of theinformation.
 17. Program product as defined in claim 16, wherein thestep of effectuating communication of at least a portion of the storedinformation to a point-of-sale terminal is performed via a wirelessoutput device in communication with at least one of a controller or thereadable memory of the wallet consolidator, the wireless output devicecomprising one or more of the following: a wireless communicationsinterface or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and wherein the at leasta portion of the information is communicated for use in a point-of-saletransaction.
 18. Program product as defined in claim 16, wherein thereceived information includes a digitized image.
 19. Program product asdefined in claim 16, wherein the information comprises informationpertaining to at least one of the following: one or more credit cards,one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or moreelectronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and wherein theprogram product further operates to perform the step of: providing auser an option to select a card to add or delete, duplicate information,transfer data, move cash, or access or amend information including atleast one of the following: an electronic coupon, identificationinformation, or a medical record.
 20. Program product as defined inclaim 16, wherein the step of receiving is performed via an input devicein communication with at least one of a controller or the readablememory of the wallet consolidator, the input device comprising at leastone of the following: a touch screen, a smart card reader, a memorycard, or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and wherein the programproduct further operates to perform the steps of: receiving a passcodefrom a user prior to allowing the user to gain access to the walletconsolidator, and allowing the user to gain access to functions of thewallet consolidator responsive to the passcode.